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When it comes to providing supply chain assurances, producing conservation outcomes, and supporting education and community engagement – Forests are the Answer. The 2018 SFI Annual Conference will explore this theme and engage you in a discussion focused on why Forests are the Answer to so many of the most important sustainability challenges we face in the sector and in our communities.
The SFI Annual Conference brings together thought leaders and influencers: forest sector representatives, conservation and community partners, and Indigenous leaders as well as some of the most engaged forest product customers in North America. This year’s conference will discuss topics relevant to national and international initiatives across the forest sector. Come to the 2018 SFI Annual Conference to learn more and engage with the SFI community.
The 2017 SFI Annual Conference by the Numbers
97% of post-conference survey respondents would recommend this conference to a colleague
Between 300 and 500 people attended the SFI Conference and joint sessions held with the Canadian Institute of Forestry
People came from around the world representing 11 countries: United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Malawi, Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland
SFI’s student mentorship program included 28 students from 13 universities and three countries
Highlights from Past SFI Annual Conferences
Below is a video of highlights from the 2017 SFI Annual Conference.
UPM Raflatac’s Biofore Site™ concept engages factory employees and fosters a culture of sustainability in line with UPM’s 2030 responsibility targets. For many years, UPM Raflatac factories have operated ISO 14001-compliant, third-party certified environmental management systems to ensure continual environmental performance improvement. The Biofore Site™ concept expands on this foundation by including economic and social aspects. Since the 2017 pilot, each factory has created a unique path to improve its scorecard performance. A multi-parameter Biofore Site scorecard based on UN Sustainable Development Goals is used to monitor each factory’s progress.
Increasing regulatory requirements such as the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and market pressure for responsibly produced products are posing a serious challenge to businesses, certification schemes and producers in agricultural and forest-based sectors. The RIA will develop and maintain credible risk assessments with a range of partners and across commodities offering value beyond the EUDR. Through an innovative and collaborative approach, the Alliance will encourage risk data sharing in a pre-competitive sphere and cut through the complex and costly landscape facing companies and sustainability systems. “Historically, businesses, certification schemes and other stakeholders have worked in isolation to evaluate risks. Without coordination, it is easy to imagine how they may come to different conclusions for the same indicators, wasting time, resources, and potential impact,” said David Hadley, Regulatory Impact Programme Director at Preferred by Nature.
As society rallies to combat climate change, companies and organizations spanning all sectors have spurred into action, reevaluating and revitalizing their sustainability strategies to curb their carbon footprint. Among the widespread green initiatives sweeping across industries, a notable trend involves substituting plastic materials with an eco-friendly alternative sourced from trees to form biodegradable pulp products. Pulp is raw material derived from the natural fibers of trees and plants and recycled materials like paper, cardboard, and newspapers. From a sustainability standpoint, the allure of biodegradable pulp is undeniable, as it is recyclable and compostable. Because of its superiority in reducing environmental impact, new doors to sustainability have been opened in comparison to plastic or Styrofoam, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. Biodegradable pulp products also have many other advantages that differentiate them from other eco-friendly alternatives, such as reducing energy consumption and shipping costs. They can accomplish this by producing robust, lightweight products that can withstand the same amount of pressure with a lighter material.